Job Description

Head of Planning & Insights

Remote with travel to Preston, minimum of 2 x monthly, or Hybrid with 2 days per week in our Preston office
Salary circa 90k DOE + Annual Bonus

A glance at the role and LPPA:

As demands upon our organisation have grown, we are strengthening our Operational Planning, Performance and Insight function with an exciting opportunity for a new Head of Planning & Insights to join us.

Reporting to our Chief Customer Officer, this is a pivotal new role to understand volume & trends across the business in relation to members, clients and employers. Enabling us to be effective, efficient and deliver excellent customer service, responding to the data and the insight it drives, to improve decision making & efficiency.

The role holder will be a key voice in providing narrative to business leaders, to help formulate strategy.

Please note, shortlisting will take place weeks commencing 18th & 25th August, with 1st stage interviews taking place in September.

Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA) is an award-winning organisation and one of the UK's leading pension administration companies. We strive to deliver the best experience for over 2,100 employers and more than 700,000 members of Local Government, Police and Firefighter pension schemes, keeping them fully informed about their pensions whilst working closely with employers to continuously educate and support them.

What we can offer you:

- Attractive salary of circa 90k DOE and inclusion in annual bonus scheme.
- 30 days' holiday, plus bank holidays. 2 concessionary days and half day for your birthday, with the ability to 'buy and sell' leave.
- Access to an excellent pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contributions.
- Access to our Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for when you or your family might need some support.
- Access to Health or Dental plan.
- The opportunity to earn through our Employee Referral Scheme.
- Access to our bespoke Reward Discount Scheme - 'Your Perk Site.'
- Opportunities to attend Wellbeing webinars and social events.
- Daily free fruit and snacks available to you in our office.
- Free Car Parking in Preston Town Centre.

What you'll be doing:

- As an experienced leader, you will lead a team to develop best-in-class models that incorporate key information from internal and external sources and help deliver accurate and detailed demand forecasts and operational workforce plans.
- Develop and implement the organisation's planning framework to ensure alignment with business objectives and long-term vision.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to shape strategic goals and identify opportunities for growth and improvement. You will need to know when to challenge their ways of thinking to reach the best outcome.
- Lead the annual and quarterly planning processes, ensuring a cohesive and forward-thinking approach across teams.
- Responsible for overseeing the demand forecasting across clients and member types to feed into operational resource allocation to deliver a first-class, member-focused service.
- Developing strategic workforce and short-term capacity plans to meet demand and drive delivery of organisational customer service standards.
- Oversee the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to generate actionable insights.
- Provide clear, concise, and impactful reporting to stakeholders, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to leverage data in decision-making processes and drive operational improvements. Understand, refine and inform future workforce needs and any gaps that exist.
- Manage and mentor a high-performing team of analysts and planners, fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation.
- Ensure the team has the tools, training, and resources necessary to deliver exceptional outcomes.
- Champion collaboration and knowledge-sharing across departments to enhance organisational effectiveness.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, providing strategic guidance and insights.
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align plans and priorities.
- Communicate complex data and strategies in a clear and compelling manner to diverse audiences.

What we need from you:

- Degree in Business, Economics, Data Science, or a related field; advanced degree is preferred.
- Experience working in a similar Senior leadership role where you've been driving insight and influencing senior leaders, driving strategic planning in complex environments.
- Proven experience of using data and analysis to drive planning in a complex operational/delivery environment.
- Strong background in developing data strategies, with the ability to create and implement innovative approaches to data management and analysis.
- Extensive knowledge of data analysis tools and software, such as Excel, Tableau, Power BI, or equivalent. Familiarity with statistical or predictive modelling is a plus.
- Exceptional ability to synthesise complex data into meaningful insights and strategies.
- Proven track record of leading and developing teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional leadership skills, with a proven ability to build, manage, and motivate a high-performing team by leading, coaching, and developing individuals.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate, challenge and influence internal and external stakeholders and to build and retain trust and confidence across senior leadership.
- Expertise in scenario planning, forecasting, and developing insights to inform long-term strategy and decision-making.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively.
- A strong communicator with the ability to use data and reporting to drive oversight and assurance for senior leadership teams.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive, outside-the-box approach to challenges.
- Experience in delivering tactical and strategic solutions.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 90,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: OPS581